New Zealand’s timber industry at risk due to low domestic and international demand

New Zealand’s timber manufacturers are feeling the pinch, with mils reporting “very low forward orders, indeed worse than last year,” with demand from Australia “also very low.” And despite sales of sawn wood picking up in Asian markets – namely China and India, New Zealand cannot sustain a sawmill industry without a solid domestic market. That is according to Scott Downs, PF Olsen’s Director of Sales and Marketing, who said, “NZ saw millers predict that 2024 will be tougher than 2023.” This is reflected in the latest PF Olsen Log Price Index, which dropped $9 to $113 for ...